{"id":42477,"date":"2013-11-21T08:40:28","date_gmt":"2013-11-21T14:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.austincnm.com\/?p=42477"},"modified":"2013-11-21T17:05:45","modified_gmt":"2013-11-21T23:05:45","slug":"givingthanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/11\/givingthanks\/","title":{"rendered":"Giving Thanks in All Things"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"thankfultree\"<\/a>

Our little thankfulness tree is slowly blooming in the foyer<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My husband and I built a\u00a0Good Cents <\/a>certified home last year, and we have been over the moon with the new space for our family and friends who come to visit. \u00a0The house seemed so spacious when we first moved in. In fact, after the frame was up, I looked to my husband and said “this is way too much!” But our family has quickly filled\u00a0it, and of course a year and a half later, we inhabit every dearly loved nook and cranny.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 But what a journey it has been. Over 4 years ago, my husband lost his government job, the one you’re never supposed to lose. It rocked our world. We didn’t want to leave our life in College Station, so he began the job hunt. There were great opportunities elsewhere, but we were not ready to move. Savings dwindled, and he began to consider starting his own business. I was fearful and untrusting, and my faith in him and in God’s ability to provide was tested. I wondered if I should get a full time job to help. But slowly, his business grew. There were exciting highs, and some scary lows, and good and bad surprises. \u00a0We learned exactly what we “needed” to live and watched something beautiful happen to our family that we never expected. \u00a0A Father who could work from home, and a Mother who learned how to “let Go and let God.” \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0As I had told a friend, it had always been easy for me to sing God’s praises in my life up to that point for nothing had ever, ever gone wrong. But to praise and thank God in the scary times? It was time for me to “walk the walk” in my faith life.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 Building our house was a dream for us. But I still look around and wonder how I got here, from ten years ago when I was engaged and earning \u00a0a part-time salary. I lived contentedly in a little apartment with a particle board computer desk from college and a twin bed, with a broken frame that I never bothered to fix. All I had to my name was one box of perogies in the freezer. And I felt blessed.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Today there are couches, tables, lamps, silverware, bikes, shoes, a china cabinet filled with dishes, \u00a0a pantry stocked with dry goods, closets filled with coats, shelves filled by books. When I shop on grocery day and fill our refrigerator with bright red strawberries, crisp carrots, green salad and fresh meats and I usually pause in a moment of awe and utter a silent prayer of gratitude that we can feed our family so healthfully each week.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Where did all this stuff come from, and where did that waif of a \u00a0girl go who could wrote in her journal at the park in her treasured thrift store skirts?<\/p>\n

While we strive to live modestly, I still often imagine a much simpler life in a parallel universe. No house payments, no car payments, no technology. \u00a0Just a sack filled with apples and good books and family pictures. Like my favorite final scene in the movie the Sound of Music, as the Von Trapp family ascends a mountain with everything they own upon their backs and climb steadily across the majestic Alps. Is it strange to look upon the most uncertain times of my life with fondness?<\/p>\n

Then like a hamster in a wheel who has taken a pause for a snack, I relocate to the present moment and run our kids to piano and tennis and try to remember what it was I was going to make for dinner, which bill is outstanding and who I was supposed to call back the next morning.<\/p>\n

We are blessed with so much abundance in our nation, it can be easy to forget that we have a choice to refuse some of it. Maybe not all of us are called to be missionaries overseas. Not all of us are able to own a tract of land and raise cattle, or sew our own clothing. But we can encourage and support those who do. \u00a0We can make small differences in our every day purchasing that contribute to a cleaner, kinder world. \u00a0We can shop for fair trade coffees, teas and chocolates in our local grocery store. We can recycle and start a compost pile. We can buy almost-new clothing and other items, or even barter. \u00a0We can drive that old faithful car and use that old cell phone and be glad. We can involve our families in the ministries which reach out to those in need in our communities. We can practice the gratitude which reminds us that yes, we have enough, and still plenty to share with someone who does not.\u00a0A simpler, more grateful, generous life is within our reach, and the choices we make create the world in which we live and how our children will live as well.<\/p>\n

We give thanks in words, but we also give thanks in actions, too.<\/p>\n

I look around our home that still feels so grand to me, squeeze the hand of my love, and peek on my healthy, slumbering children. I’ll never understand how I was given this beautiful life, certainly by no merit of mine. But I thank God for what he taught me about praising, thanking and trusting Him in the uncertainties.<\/p>\n

As we gather as friends, families and communities for Thanksgiving, let us not pressure ourselves to make a perfect meal and forget to love and listen to one another in the process. Let us feel thankful for our lives, and not forget about those less fortunate, and our duty to them in service and prayer. Let us hunger for grateful hearts, and in all things, let us give thanks to God!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My husband and I built a\u00a0Good Cents certified home last year, and we have been over the moon with the new space for our family and friends who come to visit. \u00a0The house seemed so spacious when we first moved in. In fact, after the frame was up, I looked to my husband… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[2088,50,2087,809,338,397],"class_list":["post-42477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-blog","tag-fair-trade","tag-faith","tag-gratitude","tag-service","tag-stewardship","tag-thanksgiving","entry","has-post-thumbnail"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":45001,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2014\/03\/family-table-domestic-church-fed\/","url_meta":{"origin":42477,"position":0},"title":"The Family Table","author":"Julia Motekaitis","date":"March 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"With the exception of car seats, the dining table is the only place where my husband and I have been able to hold a captive audience. During the school year, we have a mere three hour period of togetherness between the return from school and onset of dinner, activities and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dining table","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Dining-table.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":42944,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/kucios-christmas-eve-lithuania\/","url_meta":{"origin":42477,"position":1},"title":"K\u016b\u010dios – A Christmas Eve in Lithuania","author":"Julia Motekaitis","date":"December 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0This month at Austin Catholic New Media, the contributors are taking turns sharing some of their family Christmas traditions. \u00a0While I have some very special ones from my own family of origin, today I'd like to share just a few of the beautiful customs I have experienced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Seneles-nativity.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12232,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/02\/sex-love-and-the-pill\/","url_meta":{"origin":42477,"position":2},"title":"Sex, Love and the Pill","author":"Kathryn Whitaker","date":"February 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The last several weeks, my husband and I have hovered over our smart phones and iPads, reading every possible article about the HHS mandate and controversy.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen tweets, read controversial FB status updates, scrolled through interesting blog posts and had engaging conversations with Catholics and non-Catholics.\u00a0 While the controversy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/shutterstock_298879_wedding-table-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12946,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/03\/in-thanksgiving-for-friends-the-sacraments-and-huffing-chrism\/","url_meta":{"origin":42477,"position":3},"title":"In thanksgiving for friends, the sacraments, and huffing chrism","author":"Martina","date":"March 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This past weekend I got to visit with some college friends. I've never been one to think about friendships and how valuable they are until very recently. You see, Emma was my first roommate at UT. I remember when she roomed with Cindy. Cindy was dating Dio. I've known Emma\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/IMG_0005-630x420.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":43138,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/12\/sunday-says-podcast-december-29-2013-mass-readings-reflections\/","url_meta":{"origin":42477,"position":4},"title":"Sunday Says Podcast \u2013 December 29, 2013 Mass Readings and Reflections","author":"Steve Scott","date":"December 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"[powerpress] Sunday December 29, 2013 Lectionary 17 The Feast of the Holy Family (NAB Translation) Each year we have twelve official days of Christmas to contemplate the mystery of the incarnation and to meditate on the humanity of Christ as well as his divinity.\u00a0\u00a0 The Feast of the Holy Family\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sunday Says"","block_context":{"text":"Sunday Says","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/podcast\/sundaysays\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SundaySaysPodcast-logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/SundaySaysPodcast-logo1-300x231.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25919,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/11\/death-and-your-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":42477,"position":5},"title":"Death & Your Marriage","author":"Rita Suva","date":"November 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"This may be a little unusual for someone to admit, but, I\u2019m not afraid to die. And I even look forward to death one day (not in a \u201cI want to die today\u201d type of way but in a \u201cI look forward to being in God\u2019s presence for eternity and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/medium_6869336880-300x200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42477"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42477\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}